[2] Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Ayiti or Quisqueya to the Taínos (the Spaniards named it La Española, i.e., Hispaniola — now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti) was divided into five kingdoms, i.e., Xaragua, Maguana, Higüey, Maguá, and Marién.

On December 4, 1492,[8] Christopher Columbus arrived in the kingdom of Marién at present-day Mole St Nicholas, Haiti.

[3][7][10] In 1493, Caonabo was arrested for ordering the destruction of La Navidad (a Spanish colony in the northwestern part of the island) and its people.

With his power weakened, Bohechío, advised by Anacaona, decided to recognize the sovereignty of the Catholic Monarchs.

Instead of fighting, he committed himself to pay the tribute levied by the Spaniards with products such as cotton, bread, corn, and fish.

[11][14] Ovando's party was under the impression that Anacaona and the Taíno chiefs present at the reception were planning an insurrection.

[11] Ovando lured the chiefs into a caney (large hut) for a Spanish tournament and gave the signal for the Spaniards to seize and bind the caciques.

[14] For one, even though the separate accounts made it seem as though it was a perfectly segregated fight along racial lines, the two groups had coexisted and intermarried for six years prior.

[16][7][17] Additionally, fifty Spaniards were killed;[14] this is a high number of casualties considering that the Europeans deployed superior military technology.

[14][13] According to Sir Arthur Helps' book The Spanish Conquest in America (1855), Nicolás Ovando renamed the place where Anacaona was murdered “The City of True Peace” (La Villa de la Vera Paz), "...in honor of his recent triumph".